Organization Strategies for the New Teacher
New teachers have a lot to plan for during their first year. Being properly organized will let you manage your classroom better and allow you to concentrate on educating your students. Here are a few quick and simple ideas to help you get better organized.
- If possible, go in to your classroom at least 2 weeks before school starts to get your room prepped the way that you want.
- Folders can be a lifesaver, especially when keeping track of parent communication. It's a good idea to keep a concise record of every note either written or received from each student's parents in a separate file folder.
- Manage your mailbox by checking it at specific times during the day and prioritizing the information you receive immediately. Anything that needs your immediate attention should go on top and all junk mail should be thrown out immediately.
- Pick one curriculum area to focus on and know it well. To accommodate for different styles of learning, plan for more than one way to share your knowledge with your students.
- Prioritize your time by determining which assignments are important enough to grade, and which you can browse to ensure that students are catching on. Don't pressure yourself to grade every assignment.
- Need an assignment back quickly from your students? Offer extra credit for early submission.
- Teacher guides are a great way to help utilize your textbook materials, so be sure to take them home and learn them.
- Store activities, tests, and assignments in order using slotted or accordion file folders.
- To minimize paper clutter, store as many materials as possible electronically.
- Create a system within your classroom for supplies and materials which is well-labeled and organized. Have students follow this system of organization.
- To ensure good classroom habits, be consistent in everything you do. Your students will follow.
- Don't reinvent the wheel! Consult with a veteran teacher on the subject of organization.
For the new teacher, organization is often an evolutionary process filled with trial and error, so try not to get frustrated. Just remember that the better organized you are, the more you will be able to maximize the learning and teaching space for your classroom.
